Iowa universities join digital manufacturing initiative

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 10:49 AM

Iowa's three regent universities are among 60 institutions that will be part of a new $320 million digital manufacturing consortium announced Tuesday by President Barack Obama, The Des Moines Register reported. The Chicago-based Digital Lab for Manufacturing will also include industry partners such as Deere & Co., Rockwell Collins and other major manufacturers. The University of Iowa's Center for computer Aided Design will serve as a primary site for its role in the consortium, along with Iowa State University's Center for e-Design, the Virtual Reality Applications Center and the Center for Nondestructive Evaluation. The University of Northern Iowa's will most likely partner with the lab on additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing metal casting. The Chicago laboratory will be funded with $70 million from the Defense Department plus an additional commitment of $250 million in state and private-sector money and other contributions, the Chicago Tribune reported. The initiative is the fourth national innovation hub to be announced.